Hurricane Hugo was born and quickly intensified, reaching a category 5 (the most powerful hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale) by mid September while it churned in the eastern Caribbean.  Then Hugo took a northwestern turn and warnings were issued for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Hugo hit Puerto Rico on September 18, 1989.  Torrential rains and 160 M.P.H. winds ripped through Puerto Rico. 12 people who lived in Puerto Rico died because of Hugo. Then Hugo moved to South Carolina late in the evening of the 21st, but was now reduced to a category 4, with 130 M.P.H. wind speeds.  Hugo next moved to North Carolina with its strength still intact.  The storm battered Charlotte, North Carolina with 85 M.P.H. wind speeds.  The remnants of Hugo now passed over West Virginia and western Pennsylvania before dissolving. A 52-foot yacht was left in the middle of a street in North Carolina.  Charleston residents described the aftermath of Hugo as the people described the aftermath of a war.